Dog Bite Lawyer in Mount Pleasant, SC
It’s wonderful that people find companionship with dogs. However, some dog owners have dogs that will attack a human or another animal more readily than others. When this occurs, the victim has a near indisputable right to compensation for their injuries However, your right to compensation as a dog bite victim does not guarantee you the damages you deserve. The insurance company handling your claim will likely fight to pay you a much smaller compensation package than your case warrants. It is what their adjusters do every day, and it can save insurance companies millions of dollars. An experienced dog bite lawyer fights to prevent this from happening.
Their work involves making the compensation figure go up instead of down. With the right skill and experience, a dog bite lawyer can get their client up to five or six times more compensation than the insurance company’s initial offering. Considering the losses dog bite victims experience, they need access to maximum compensation whenever possible.
Consequences of Dog Bites
With nearly 80 million dogs in the U.S., it’s no wonder there are over 4.5 million dog bites each year, and more than 800,000 of them need medical treatment. The injuries dogs inflict are painful and can be deadly, especially when more than one dog is involved.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Some dogs have incredible jaw strength. Testing has shown that some dogs can exert over 700 PSI. The average dog can produce around 250 PSI, which is easily sufficient to cause a catastrophic injury or death.
Injuries dog bite victims typically face are:
- Puncture wounds
- Abrasions
- Lacerations
- Broken and crushed bones
- Amputations
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Infections
- Rabies and other diseases
- Emotional injuries
- PTSD
Treating these injuries can cost tens of thousands of dollars and lead to other economic losses, such as:
- Lost income from missing work
- Expenses for household care assistance
- Travel expenses for treatment
- Future medical costs
Additionally, dog bite injury victims face intangible losses that affect them just as deeply as their out-of-pocket costs. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Inconveniences
- Physical impairment
- Mental anguish
- Loss of society and companionship
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
If you have been bitten by a dog, you might be owed compensation for each of these losses, depending on the facts of your case.
How to Get Compensation for a Dog Bite
Dog bites are personal injury cases that require you to prove someone else was at fault for your injury. Normally, your attorney would have to demonstrate negligence. However, South Carolina law hits dog owners with strict liability for the injuries their dog’s cause. This means your attorney need only prove that the dog bite occurred instead of proving that the dog owner or handler was negligent.
Your attorney will then have to prove that you suffered losses as a result of the dog bite. This is accomplished by presenting proof of medical treatment, loss of income, receipts, and similar documentation.
The intangibles are not so easily calculated and truly require the services of a seasoned dog bite lawyer to help ensure the insurance company reaches a proper figure.
Negotiations can be contentious with dog bite claims. As explained, insurance companies work hard to protect their profits and are never on the victim’s side. In cases that are particularly contentious, an insurance company might refuse to pay a just compensation figure. If this occurs, your dog bite lawyer may recommend going to trial.
How Our Dog Bite Lawyer in Mount Pleasant Can Help
At Lowcountry Law, LLC, we handle all of the legal work for our clients as they settle their lives after an attack. The last thing you need to concern yourself with is an insurance company trying to pay you less than what you deserve. With a dog bite lawyer handling your claim, your chances of getting a high payout increase.
Educated at the Citadel, attorney Matthew Breen founded Lowcountry Law on principles of justice, integrity, and discipline, which is why Lowcountry Law represents injury victims. He knows how hard insurance companies try to pay less for valid claims, and they know he counters that effort with ceaseless dedication.
When you trust Lowcountry Law to manage your claim, you get the benefit of working with a firm that:
- Handles all legal paperwork for you, including drafting and filing claims
- Investigates your dog bite attack and collects relevant evidence
- Engages in negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf
- Hires relevant experts and investigators
- Represents you at trial when necessary
We also keep you well informed as to the progress of your claim and give you a round-the-clock line to your dog bite lawyer. Call Lowcountry Law to set up a complimentary consultation today.
What to Do After You Have Been Attacked by a Dog
It is always best to act quickly after a dog attack. Seek medical attention, no matter how mild the injury may seem to be, and take pictures of your wounds, the dog, and the attack location when possible. The images will be extremely helpful in proving your claim, as will the medical report of the dog bite injury.
If you are not acquainted with the owner or handler of the dog that bit you, make sure to get their contact information and as much information about the dog as possible. If there were any witnesses to your attack, try to get their contact information.
If possible, keep a journal after the accident that describes the difficulties you face from your injuries and how they have led to a degradation in the quality of your life.
Schedule a Consultation with a Dog Bite Lawyer
It is advantageous to meet with an attorney as soon after the dog bite as you can, and it’s recommended you do so before communicating with the insurance company responsible for your claim. It will be helpful if you bring the items discussed above (photos, medical report, etc.) as well as your medical bills, pay stubs or direct deposit receipts, and receipts for any of your injury-related expenses.
Time is of the Essence in Dog Bite Cases
Once you suffer a dog bite injury, a clock starts ticking. At three years, the clock stops, signaling the end of a dog bite victim’s ability to bring a claim for compensation for their losses. If a dog has injured you, you are urged to act quickly. Tragically, many claims expire due to victims putting off legal action until it is too late.
Even if you take action within three years of the incident, it is still wise to make haste and get your claim processed. The longer it has been since the attack, the weaker your case will likely be. Fading memories, missing witnesses, a missing dog, and other factors can weaken a claim as time goes on.
Call Lowcountry Law for a Complimentary Case Evaluation
Give us a call to set up a free consultation. You have the right to know what you are entitled to. South Carolina dog bite lawyer Matthew Breen will review your dog bite case and give you an idea of how much compensation you deserve. Although results can never be guaranteed, numerous five-star reviews from our past and current clients demonstrate the dedication, skill, and compassion we have for them.